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Cameron Heyward Leads List Of Packers Draft Predictions

With the NFL Combine less than a week away, I thought it was time for my annual survey of internet mock drafts to find out who people think are the most likely targets of the Green Bay Packers come April.

Most of the people creating these mock drafts are far from what one would call experts, although I do think Mel Kiper's mock draft was one of those I included.

What I try to get out of this exercise is to see what players are still likely to be on the board when the Packers pick at the 32nd slot in the draft and see who the top few consensus players are.

Picking at the tail end of the first round, there was very little consensus as 30 different players were predicted to go to the Packers. Among them, seven were 3-4 defensive linemen, five were primarily offensive tackles, four were primarily interior offensive linemen, three were running backs, three were 3-4 outside linebackers, three were cornerbacks, three were wide receivers and two were safeties.

we dont need that many lineman 0_o... we need a tackle.. or two i guess just in case we the first one doesnt work out.. cough tj cough cough.. but we dont need a center? or a guard really.. a WR a CB and some linebackers. why do we need runningbacks?

The draft usually falls apart after the first 10 picks and is about impossible to predict who is going to be there at pick 32. I'm sure TT will let the board come to him make his best decision on based on those available.

Did anybody catch NFL Total Access yesterday? Jennings was on set and asked what he thought we needed, I found it VERY interesting. He said Clifton's not getting any younger and he thought we needed to go LT. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we drafted our LT of the future last April??? Makes me wonder if the guys at 1265 are beginning to think of BB as a RT at this level.

I'm hoping BB is our LT of the future, if so we could put mauler like Carimi at RT next to Sitton and just have a straight up nasty right side of the line... Justin Houston sounds pretty good too. But, in Ted we trust, I'm not even sweating the draft this year, just gonna let the man do what he do.

Also #85 was asked if GBP fans should book a flight to Indy next year, he said yes. I've never known the man to lie.

Rodgers endorsed Bulaga is the future LT Mid to late season this year, so I'm not sure if Jennings comment means much. I think they have a lot of options with him regardless of whether they pick up an LT this year.

"Most of the people creating these mock drafts are far from what one would call experts,"

...no kidding, as of last week about one out of every 6 mocks didn't have the right draft order for the first round. One even hadn't changed the order since the start of the playoffs (having the Packers pick 26th)...oops!!!

I kind of want the team to keep the WR corps together as best they can. It takes time for the QB and WRs to get in lockstep, and I think we saw plenty of times during the playoffs where Rodgers showed trust in all of them, including Nelson and Jones. Obviously, another team could offer too much for Jones, forcing us to let him go, but if I had my druthers, I'd vote to keep the offensive skill players static as much as possible.

By contrast, I like the idea of spending your high picks on lineman. Quality lineman can generally step in and contribute right away (see Bulaga, Raji, and heck, even Lang contributed his rookie season.) Plus, adding to the oline will mitigate the need for a high quality RB because it doesn't really matter who carries the rock if there aren't holes to run through. And of course, adding olineman protects our most valuable asset: QB1.

Finally, I also don't mind spending high round picks on defense. I think the Colts really limited their team's upside by not focusing as much on defense. As long as we have Rodgers our offense is going to be at least solid, if not stupendous. Get your elite QB a defense and watch the Super Bowls pile up (see: Patriots, Steelers.)

Yeah. You just can't go wrong fortifying the trenches with high round picks. It's not flashy and kind of anticlimactic, but that really is where games are won and lost. Imagine getting Rodgers another .3 seconds in the pocket... HUGE. Conversely, quality bodies on the D-line (especially in the 34) are just as big. If your line is destroying the pocket, that just makes your LB's jobs that much easier.

Can't go wrong with the bigs. Although I think we have a potential beast in the making in Neal, and if we get Jolly back in any kind of shape our D-line is looking pretty deep when you throw in C.J. I think Pickett has a bit of life left too. And Raji, well, we all know what that kid can do.

Agreed. Assuming TT is looking for value, I'd say OG is more likely than anything else, just because even the best interior OL prospects almost never go in the top 20. In contrast, highly regarded DLs regularly go in the top 10. But all of this really is so impossible to predict. No one would have thought we'd get Rodgers at the end of the first in that draft. Bulaga was likely to be gone by where we got him last year as well.

"Quality lineman can generally step in and contribute right away (see Bulaga, Raji, and heck, even Lang contributed his rookie season.)"
On the DL I'll agree with ya. But OL is probably the hardest position to jump into for a rookie. (Besides QB) All the calls at the line, blitz pickups and such usually keep rookie OL guys on the bench their rookie year. What Bulaga did last year was not the norm, and he even came in half way through the season. I'm not saying I don't like taking an OL in the earlier rounds, I just wouldn't expect him to play this coming year unless there is an injury, ie TJ Lang.

If there's a stud interior o-lineman available he will be drafted.
If there's a stud outside linebacker available he will be drafted.
If there's a stud offensive tackle available he will be drafted.

If there is not a stud from one of the above listed positions available, TT will trade out of R1. A player who plays any other position than the three above has zero chance of starting. He would just be there for depth.

Well, he drafted Aaron Rodgers with BF on the roster. Ted will take the best player, but if there is no player worthy, he will trade down. It might be notable that his trading partner in recent years has been New England, who has 6 picks in the top 100, and gave us Clay Matthews in a trade down.

That's a definite possibility. This team doesn't need 7 or 8 guys in THIS draft, just too deep of a squad (saying that Ted will probably trade down 3 or 4 time and get 10 picks)... I could def see that if Ted falls in love again like he did with Clay.

I believe this draft class will be under the new CBA when complete since the draft is after the current one expires, the draft will happen as usual but there will be no signings until the NFLPA and the owners knock out a new CBA (not sure, could be wrong, been awhile, I'm due). If that's the case it sure sounds like there will be some sort of ceiling on rookies starting with this class, I know that's a big factor on owners end, just not sure what that will entail.

Hey I'm all for a sick dl or lb I mean who doesn't like to watch bj cullen clay desmond and aj do work but just once wouldn't u guys like to step on the field with a badass return guy like our good friends in Chicago have? I mean yeah we will never find a DH cause he is just amazing, but maybe someone like Titus Young could give our sad special teams a great boost. No offense to Tra or Jordo, but they should be on the sideline anyways their too valuable to us.GET US A JOYSTICK TED!

I hope we don't wast our first round pick on an RB. In this NFL, in the current Packer system, using a first round draft pick on an RB is a waste. We just proved we don't need a premier RB for this offense to run and more importantly win. I hope we prioritize the O and D lines in this draft and based on the uncertainiity of Jones, maybe look for a gem WR in the middle rounds. Adding some additional depth at the LB position would also be nice.

Maybe we don't need to waste a high pick on a RB, but I wouldn't say the offense doesn't need a run game. Without Starks' big game, we may not have gotten past the Eagles.

And god forbid Rodgers gets injured, but if he were to miss a couple games for some reason, we'd surely need a run game to pick up the slack.

Our pass attack is the focus, sure, but that doesn't mean you neglect the run. Why not have a great pass AND run game? Why not dominate in ALL phases? It's not as though we have to pick one or the other, and be weak with the run. We don't. Make it a strength.

Not saying we don't need a run game, I agree that adding another positive element to our offensive would be beneficial. And yes, without Starks big game against the Eagles I may not have that tingling feeling in my spine since February 6th. But if you recall, Starks was a 6th round pick. Yes, the gap in the talent level between Starks and a guy like AP or C. Johnson is evident, but most RB's in the NFL are pretty closely matched talent wise, with a few limited exceptions. My point, you can get something in the late rounds (like a Starks) that will be as talented (or close) as the projected first round RB's. Not to mention, the 21st century lifespan of an NFL RB is not worth a first round pick - in my opinion.

That all being said, I won't ever again question any move that TT makes. Period. Ever. We're in good hands with Ted Thompson.

Our young, talented, super bowl winning team will be a young(ish), talented, expensive team in 2-3 years. TT has the luxury of drafting projects to groom before our current players leave for lucrative free agency deals. Trade up only if necessary. Otherwise, stock up picks to keep the organization winning for years to come.

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"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."